Expansible chamber.



S. D. INGHAM.

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 11v VENTOR. fizzwdfify/ ew,

WITNESSES:

A TTOR N E Y.

cushion of air is'formed in SAMUEL D. INGHAM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPANSIIBLE CHAMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed April 1, 1914. Serial No. 828,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. INGHAM, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Expansible Chamber, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates,-broadly speaking, to expansible chambers calculated to sustain a weight elastically, or to act as a buffer in minimizing shock, and has more particular relation to the providing of a shock absorber for self propelled vehicles for which it is primarily designed.

The principal object of the present invention may be said to; reside in the providing of an expansible chamber designed to permit of an easy and freely responsive action to that of the referred shock orjar, so as to gradually absorb the same and then permit of the gradual return of parts affected to normal position.

A further object ofthe present invention is to provide a device of the class described embracing a cylinder closed at both ends against the expulsion of air, the side wall of which cylinder intermediate its ends is constructed to permit of the admission and expulsion of atmospheric air, which cylinder is provided with a plunger operative through the cylinder for gradually expelling air from that part ofthe cylinder toward which 'it is advancing until the plunger passes that portion of cylinder wall which permits egress of air, whereupon a confined that particular end of cylinder, during which plunger movement atmospheric air is being drawn into the opposite portion of the cylinder for similar expulsion and compression upon the opposite movement 0 the plunger. I

Other and further objects of the invention reside in the providing of an expansible chamber the cooperative parts of which are so designed, proportioned, arranged and constructed that the air admission and expulsion ports are disposed one-in advance of the other to permit of a graduated, re-

sponsive action of a reciprocating piston for eiiiciently cutting down and finally absorbing, by means of an encompassed or confined air cushion at the chamber ends, both shocks and the rebound efiects resulting therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists, generally speaking, in

the improvements hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the claims.

The nature, characteristic features and scope. of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1, is a view in central section of a type of expansible air chamber embodying the invention, Fig. 2, is a similar view of a slightly modified form, Fig. 3, is a similar view of a further modified form, Fig. 4, is a similar view of a still further modified form, the same being illustrated as embracing a shock-absorber for self-propelled vehicles, and Fig. 5, is a side view of Fig. 4, partly sectioned.

In the drawings, there is disclosed a physi-. cal embodiment of the improvement, de-

signed in accordance with the methods best known to me at this time for practising the invention.

Obviously, variations may be made of the particular form and arrangement of parts here shown without departing from the fair scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, 10, designates a plunger Working in a cylinder 11, closed at both ends by heads comprising preferably removable caps 12, and, 13, which caps as shown have screw threaded relation with the cylinder wall. Ready access to the cylinder interior may thus be had for repair or other-purposes. The plunger may be of any suitable construction but, in practice, is made up of superimposed disks 9, of pliable material, as leather, fitted between metallic disks 14, and 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The metallic disks are of smaller diameter than the inside dimensions of the cylinder 11, but the pliable disks, however, are of a diameter in excess of the cylinder diameter. The peripheral rims of these disks 9, are

diverged so as to lie between the rims of the metallic disks and the inner wall of the cylinder to closely hug the same, the advanto permit of the proper cylinderby inder.

nating flush with the top of the upper metallic disk 14. The plunger and-plunger rod are secured together by a suitable element, shown in the drawings. as being a machine screw 19, a countersunk washer 20, 'be ing present to receive the head thereof.

Thecylinder wall as disclosed in Fig. 1, is slotted as at 4, preferably spirally to prevent wear upon the plunger, which slot is disposed intermediate of the closed cylinder ends. This slot is of a size or dimension amount of atmos pheric air being admitted to and expelled from the cylinder ment. As the plunger moves toward the position shown in Fig.r.l, for instance, air

within the 'c dinder beyond the plunger 1s gradually expelli :1 through the slot a, until the plunger passes the part a',. of the slot, whereupon a confined cushion of air is formed at a. During this plunger movement, atmospheric air has been drawn into the opposite portion of the cylinder, so that as the plunger returns in the opposite direction, such air is gradually expelled until the part a, of the slot is reached, atmospheric air meanwhile being admitted beyond the plunger. Should the plunger continue in its movement beyond part a, of the slot, a confined cushion of air is formed with respect tothis particular end of the cylin der 11.

The normal position of the plunger is disclosed in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. For illustrative purposes, assuming that the cylinder is fixed to the frame of a self-propelled vehicle and that the plunger rod is connected to a rear or front axle of the vehicle, shocks or-jars, as the vehicle wheels pass over an obstruction, force the plunger farther into the cyl- T his inward movement of the plunger decreases the volume of air within the causing air to expel through that portion of the slot beyond the plunger, thus increasingthe intensity of pressure. The intensity ofpressure acts to resist the force exerted against the plunger and the farther inward the. plunger moves, the greater the pressure until when the plunger moves beyond art a, of the slot, 2. compact cushion 0 air is present between the cylinder cap 12-, and the plunger top, which cushion of air serves to absorb the final shock impulse. It may motion that after the plunger passes-the part a, the intensity of pressure of confined air above the, plunger increases many 'ounds to the square inch with the gradual inward-movement of the plunger so "that a maximum pressure intensity is obtained with the result described. I I

In Fig. 2, a slightly modified form is disclosed. In lieu of a slot, ports I). b, b", andb', are formed in the cylinder wall. These ports are open so that at all times located one adjacent during the plunger movei hown, in

" through ports I), crease the volume of air within the cylin- 'der beyond the plunger movement of the plunger,

be stated in this. con-. 7

bottom, part of a vehicle 16, is provided there may be free admission or expulsion of air duringthe shown, the ports 6, and b, are ad acent and arranged substantially midway of the cylinder heads. The ports I), and b' are the cylinder and the other adjacent the cylinder head 12. It is thought that the operation of the plunger movement. As

head 13,

plunger through the cylinder in connection with these ports will be sufliciently apparent fromthe foregoing description without going ,into details, which would amount to repetition.

In Fig. 3, a further modified form is which while ports I) and 6', re-

main as in Fig. 2, the remaining ports are closed by adjustable, spring'pressed outwardly opening valves 21, and 22, of any suitable type. There is also present in the cylinder head 13, a port provided with an inwardly opening adjustable spring pressed valve 23. Normally, the. plunger assumes a position between the ports I), and b, so thatports b and b" are open to the atmospheric air. With the plunger moving outwardly, valve 23 is opened by suction to admit atmospheric air to the cylinder behind the plunger. As the plunger move ment continues, air is gradually expelled and b, and b to deand increase the intensity of Finally, when the plunger passes a confined air cushion is formed as'depressure as before described.

port 6', 1

scribed. In the return plunger movement and valve 23, remains closed. 1

In Figs. 4:, and 5, further modified constructions are disclosed. Instead of ports I), and b", a single port b", is present, provided with an adjustable, spring pressed, inw'ardly opening valve 24. The other valved ports are the same as shown in Fig. 3. As the plungerfrom normal position, as shown, valve23, opens, valve 21,remains closed, valve 24, opens after plunger passesthe same and air is. expelledthrough port b. In the return valve 24, is closed until after plungerpasses the same, valve 21, is open and valves 22 and 23, closed.

As showing one method of arrangement of a compressible chamber embodying the invention in application to a self-propelled vehicle,- a generally L-shaped bracket 25, apertured to cooperatively seat the cylinder in practice is attached to a suitable frame. The plunger rod at its lower end with a spherical part 26. Connecting the part 26, and a similar part 27 fixed to one of the freeends of atwo-part axle clamp 28, is a two-part socket 29, the parts being bolted together as at 30. Such attachment, em-

it will be understood that valve 21, opens are closed closed to admission of bracing a pair of ball and socket joints forms a universal connection particularly adapted to prevent straining of the cylinder and parts and accommodate lateral sway of a vehicle. The axle clamp is adapted to be secured upon the vehicle axle as by bolts 31. To prevent turning of the parts thus clamped, set screws 32, may be utilized.

37 designates a grease or oil cup for. the cylinder 11. Any of the above described compressible cylinders when mounted upon a self-propelled vehicle provide means for gradually decreasing and finally absorbing shocks and jars and also provide means for gradually cutting down and finally absorbing the resulting rebound efiect'of the vehicle springs.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective ends of which are closed to the expulsion of air, a plurality of ports in the cylinder wall whereof the outermost ports are disposed short of the cylinder ends and are open to air expulsion but closed to'air admission and whereof at least some of the intermediate ports are open to air admission and egress and a plunger operative in said cylinder.

2. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective heads of which are closed against the expulsion of air, a plurality of ports arranged one in advance of the other in the cylinder wall, one of said ports being disposed immediately short of each cylinder head, said latter ports being atmospheric air and the remaining or intermediate ports being open to atmospheric air admission, an inwardly opening valved head and a plunger operable through the cylinder.

3. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective heads of which against the expulsion of air, a

plurality of ports arranged one in advance of the other in the cylinder wall with one port adjacent each cylinder head and the other ports intermediate thereof, at least some of which ports are open for the ad mission and expulsion of atmospheric air, an inwardly opening valved port for one cylinder head and a plunger operable through the cylinder.

4. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective heads of which are closed for the expulsion of air, a plurality of ports arranged one in advance of the other in the cylinder wall the outermost ports being disposed short of the cylinder heads and the intermediate ports being disposed adjacent one another, the latter ports at least being open for the admission and expulsion of atmospheric air, an inwardly opening valved port for one cylinder head and a plunger operative in said cylinder the port for one cylinder &

extreme strokes of which are calculated to cut ofi, a complemental outermost port and form in a cylinder end a confined cushion of air. V

5. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective heads of which are closed for the expulsion of air, but one of them open for the admission of atmospheric air, a plurality of ports arranged one in advance of the other in the cylinder wall the outermost ports being disposed short of the cylinder heads and the other ports being disposed intermediate thereof the former being closed to the admission of atmosphericair but open to air expu'lsion and the intermediate ports being open for the admission and egress of atmospheric air, an inwardly opening valved port for one cylinder head and a plunger operative in the cylinder and calculated in its extreme strokes to pass. a complemental outermost port to form a confined" cushion'at a cylinder end. i

6. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective ends of which are closed tothe expulsion of air, a plurality of ports arranged one in advance of the other in the cylinder wallwhereof the outermost ports areopen for air expulsion but closed against air admission said ports being disposed immediately short of the cylinder ends and whereof the'intermediate ports are open to both air admission and expulsion and are disposed immediately adjacent one another midway between the cylinder ends and a plunger operative in said cylinder.

7. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder and a piston operative therein, both cylinder heads being closed to air expulsion and at least one of them closed to air admission, the cylinder side wall being provided with ports for air admission and expulsion of which some of said ports are located short of the cylinder heads and are closed to air admission but allow of air expulsion and of which the remainder of said ports are disposed intermediate of the first mentioned ports at least some of which are open for air admission and egress.

8. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder and a piston operative therein, both cylinder heads being closed to air expulsion and at least one of them closed to air admission, the cylinder wall being provided with a plurality of ports of which some are disposed short of the cylinder heads and are closed to air admission but open for air expulsion and of which some are disposed intermediate of the first mentioned ports and are relatively open for air admission and egress.

9. A device of the class described embracing a cylinder the respective ends of which are closed to the expulsion of air, a plurality of ports in the cylinder .Wall whereof the outermost ports are disposed short of the In testimony whereof, I have hereunto cylinder ends and are oven to air expulsion signed my name.

but closed to air admission and whereof the SAMUEL D. INGHAM. intermediate ports are open to air admission Witnesses: 5 and expulsion and a, plunger operative in SIDNEY E. SMITH,

said cylinder. WILLIAM J. JACKSON. 

